"You mean — I can go? You're not going to hold me? Even as a material witness?"
"You may go. Get out of the country in forty-eight hours, and you shall not be held."
A sort of wild, malignant hope was in Spinelli's face.
He had drawn himself back, with one hand against his chest. You could see that he was thinking fast, sifting chances, wondering, feeling for a trap; but he could not help saying: "Say, you told me a week! A week to leave the country, that's what you said. A week—"
"Man," interposed Dr. Fell softly, "will you never let well-enough alone? There are a number of dangerous questions I could have insisted on your answering; and you evaded them. Very well. Since I don't believe you shot Depping, I am willing to let that pass. But, by God, my friend! — if you question me, or argue with me, or try to quibble about time limits, you will get no mercy at all" He struck the handle of his stick on the table. "Speak up! What's it to be? Freedom, or gaol?"
"Oh, I’ll go! Listen, governor, please! I didn't mean anything. I wasn't trying to give you any back-talk…" The man spoke with a sort of eager and slobbering whine. "All I meant was — well, it's sudden. And I'd like," here he spoke slowly, as though he were watching the doctor with furtive care to see the effect of his words, "I'd naturally like to speak with my mouthpiece — my lawyer — and sort of — arrange things, you know; but he's tied up here, and I thought maybe I might have more time. That's all I meant."
For an instant, as the doctor bent over to pick up a matchbox he had knocked on the floor, Hugh saw the faintest twitch of a smile under his moustache. With a grunt Dr. Fell hoisted himself again.
"Humph. Well, I see no objection to that. Unless, of course, it comes from Mr. Langdon? I think he said a while ago that your conduct was insufferable, and that he was inclined to wash his hands of—"
Langdon was instantly all smiles and deprecation.
For some reason he seemed as relieved as Spinelli at the turn matters had taken. He almost clucked. Rolling bis dog's eyes about, talking with a glutinous ease, he assured them that his first duty (after all) was to his client; that he had spoken with unintentional warmth, and under pardonable stress; finally, that he would be most happy to assist his client with any advice in his power.